RELIEF FRAUDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22961, 12 February 1938, Page 18

RELIEF FRAUDS

s MORE PROSECUTIONS

UNUSUAL PLEA MADE , , OFFER OF REPAYMENT "I think in such eases the department should bo merciful, 1 ' said Mr. Fleming, in the Police Court yesterday, when he appeared for Charles Mountain, who pleaded guilty to two charges of making falso statements in order to benefit under the Employment .Promotion Act. 1

Mr. W. A. Black, who appeared for the Labour Department, said tho accused had drawn £1 los a week by stating ho was a married man, from July, 1034, to March, 1937, whereas ho was only entitled to £l, as a single man. In the middle of 1936 tho woman who had been living with him. as his wife left him, but lie still continued to declare that ho was maintaining her, and altogether lie received excess payments of £2O 13s. It was suggested ho had mado tho declarations to protect the woman's name, and there was no reason to disbelievo that.

Mr. Fleming said tho accused had planned to marry, but there was a hitch in some divorco proceedings. After the accused explained the position, to him Mr. Fleming advised him to own up. and he had offered to make restitution by making over all his wages except £2 a week to tho Public Works Department, where ho was still employed. Mr. Fleming suggested that there might be a number of men who would admit offences if they knew they would bo allowed to repay tho money. "I proposo to make him pay back what ho got," said Mr. C. It. Orr Walker, S.M.", imposing a' fine of £27 10s and costs on one charge and convicting and discharging the accused on tho second charge.

In other cases where false statements had been made, flues, with costs, were imposed as follows: —William Ernest Bennots, £42; Leslie Hush Hall, £2O; Peri. Hepi Kingi, £l7 ]os; William Edward Clarke, £l6; Raymond Charles Fussell, £l2 10s; Ernest Joseph Ramsey, £6 10s; Christopher Charles Brown, £o; Albert Tliomae Ellis, £4 10s; William Morgan, £4; Noel Clarke, £2.

TWO WELLINGTON OASES SIX WEEKS' IMPRISONMENT _ ["by Telegraph—"-press association] WELLINGTON, Friday On charges of making' false statements for the purpose of obtaining benefits under tho Employment Promotion Act, Arthur Frederick Furnoss was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and Richard Hall was fined £lO to-day.